Birdsall Engineering Group investigation clouds Hamilton politics

A few things in life really get under my skin: that mind-numbing buffering circle on a computer; a multitude of approved movie previews before the feature flick rolls; and politicians who think voters are dumber than yesterday’s donuts.

For instance, take Hamilton Township where a recent run on corruption has uncovered alleged improprieties by two employees.

The emergence of ethics is a platform being built for Republicans to profess a tough stance toward crime following the bad press that included the conviction of Mayor John Bencivengo, guilty on all five federal corruption counts; a guilty plea of money laundering by former township official, Rob Warney; and another guilty plea by former Mercer County Republican chairman Phil Angarone Jr. for his role in pay-to-play violations as an employee at Birdsall Engineering Group.

Hamilton residents have a right to know when officials knew about alleged improprieties at Sayen Gardens and the Bromley Center. The time frame of these investigations remain important to the scope of a pledge made by Mayor Kelly Yaede.

Advertisement

As the result of charges against Coleen Sides at Sayen, coupled with allegations about Bromley Center Director Gary Gray, Yaede stepped to the plate for a statement about accountability.

“When I became mayor a few months ago, I said that all employees of Hamilton would be held accountable for their actions and that any betrayal of the public trust would not be tolerated. Unfortunately, some individuals choose to do the wrong thing, even when the consequences are severe and made clear,” Yaede said.

Officials allege Sides unlawfully received fees/monies designated for the rental of township facilities, while township officials have questioned Gray about $4,000 missing at Bromley.

Observers clearly can see this dog-and-pony show from miles away, but Hamilton remains caught up in a state pay-to-play investigation that clouds every word that falls from Mayor Yaede’s lips.

The Birdsall Services Group probe remains an unknown quantity, a kicker that could deconstruct all hopes for Republicans to maintain control of a township rife with corruption.

The Monmouth County public engineering firm with deep Hamilton connections, has witnessed a retirement of CEO Howard C. Birdsall, an indictment of former executive Vice President Thomas Rospos for pay-to-play violations; Angarone’s guilty plea; and most recently a state seizure of all company assets followed by a Birdsall Services Group filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Birdsall Services Group is bad news for Hamilton Township Republicans, especially when one understands that the company received $276,235 for eight professional services contracts between 2008 and 2011. Council later granted change orders to the tune of $71,266.

Thousands of dollars rolled in as Birdsall Services Group purchased ads in fund-raising books for the Hamilton Republican Party, although no reports exist for these contributions.

“He (Bencivengo) did not even inform the chairman, me, how he was moving money around,” Chianese reportedly said. “I did not manage or have involvement in how the mayor spent the money. That was something he and Phil (Angarone Jr.) did.”

Angarone pleaded guilty in Superior Court to third-degree tampering with public records or information and a fourth-degree charge of making prohibited campaign contributions.

Stop the buffering circle right there. We have a high-ranking Mercer County Republican dispensing hundreds of thousands of dollars and voters should not be concerned about whether any of those dollars found their way into the hands of local politicians?

By the way, Birdsall Services Group did not play favorites. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, even Sisters of the Poor seemed in play if it meant profit.

Hamilton

Council on Feb. 11, 2011, awarded Birdsall a $16,650 professional engineering services although the Monmouth county business had reportedly suffered an 18-month suspension in October 2010 for violation of New Jersey’s pay to play law.

On Sept. 20, 2011, Birdsall Services Group received three professional services contracts worth $104,800.

Next, in Dec. 2012, Hamilton Council members entertained offering an emergency contract to Birdsall for emergency repairs needed on the township’s sewer building.

Council members Ed Gore and Kevin Meara voted against the proposal while Dennis Pone and Dave Kenny supported the Birdsall Services Group initiative.

Without a fifth council member named to replace Yaede, the issue died.

Pone and Kenny said their votes were based on safety and a chance to save Hamilton residents $10,000, the difference between the Birdsall Services Group offer and a second engineering firm’s estimate.

A mentalist could not determine the mindset of Kenny and Pone. Kenny said “whatever Birdsall did doesn’t affect the price here. I don’t see any reason not to give it to them.”

Pone admitted a dislike for what he read in the paper about Birdsall, even had reservations about the company. He based his vote on the safety issue.

Meara adamantly voted against Birdsall while Gore disconnected.

“I cannot in good conscience at this time vote to give Birdsall money,” Gore said.

Hamilton officials appear poised to end its relationship with Birdsall.

In this case, it’s the past that casts a shadow as the state attorney general continues a Birdsall Services Group investigation that has more legs than a centipede.

Centipedes and politicians make my skin crawl.

L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.